Fire/rescue crews responded to a 9:45 a.m. alarm Thursday (Feb 11) for a missing stand up paddleboard surfer in Anaehoomalu Bay in Waikoloa.

Witnesses said they saw a paddleboard surfer thrown ‘over the falls’ on a large wave. The surfer had not been seen for an hour and fragments of his paddleboard were recovered.

A fire department helicopter searched the area and found the victim 100 yards offshore and rescue swimmers entered the water. The victim was airlifted with a Billy Pugh net and brought on shore to a medic unit which took the body to the police substation.

The cause of the death is reported to be unknown at this time.

The National Weather Service has issued a high surf advisory for west facing shores of the Big Island until 6 a.m. Saturday (Feb 13). Surf is forecast to be 6-10 feet.